Study in Boston, The United States

About Boston

Boston, the capital of Massachusetts, is a city where higher education shapes daily life. Boston University alone has over 38,000 students, Northeastern University more than 32,000, and several colleges have their campuses in central neighbourhoods such as Back Bay and downtown.

For an international student, Boston combines a compact, walkable centre with a very wide choice of programmes, from architecture and health sciences to business, law and summer study. Cambridge, home to Harvard and MIT, lies just across the Charles River and has its own page.

Studying in Boston

Our directory lists 13 schools in Boston: ten universities and colleges, two English language schools and one study abroad provider. Some examples:

• Boston University (BU) is a private university with over 38,000 students from more than 140 countries, 17 schools and colleges and more than 300 programmes of study. In summer, Boston University Summer Term offers more than 600 courses in 70 subjects, and Boston University - International Programs runs more than 170 study abroad programmes in over 30 cities, open to students from other US universities as well.
• Northeastern University, founded in 1898, is known for its experiential learning model and describes itself as a global university system of 14 campuses. College Navigator counts 32,553 students in Boston, 17,432 of them undergraduates.
• University of Massachusetts Boston (UMass Boston) is the city's only public research university, with 15,575 students according to College Navigator. In fall 2020 it enrolled international students from 136 countries.
• Suffolk University is a private university founded in 1906, with its campus in downtown Boston.
• Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) is a private, nonprofit institution for the health sciences that dates back to 1823.
• Boston Architectural College teaches architecture, interior architecture, landscape architecture and design studies, and some of its students combine study with professional practice.

Other colleges in the directory include Fisher College in the Back Bay (since 1903), Emmanuel College and The Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University. For English, EducationUSA notes that some US colleges and universities also offer bridge or pathway programmes that combine English study with academic credit.

Student visa

An F student visa covers study at an accredited US college or university and full-time English courses at an English language institute. After admission, the school's international student office sends you a Form I-20 (or a DS-2019 for J exchange programmes) to present at a US embassy or consulate. International students may work on campus up to 20 hours a week in their first year.

Cost of living for students

Boston is an expensive city, and costs differ a lot between institutions. For a first-year undergraduate in the 2024-25 academic year, the US Department of Education's College Navigator gives these figures:

• Boston University: $68,102 tuition and fees, $19,020 food and housing on campus
• Northeastern University: $66,162 tuition and fees, $19,580 food and housing on campus
• UMass Boston (out-of-state rate, which international students pay): $38,125 tuition and fees, $19,128 food and housing on campus

Public transport is a smaller item. On the MBTA, a subway ride costs $2.40 and a local bus ride $1.70; a 7-day pass costs $22.50 and a monthly LinkPass $90. The MBTA also sells semester passes to colleges and universities for their students, so ask your school whether it takes part.

Getting around and daily life

The MBTA runs the subway (the "T"), buses, commuter rail and ferries. Since September 2026, a pilot lets riders make unlimited transfers between subway, bus and ferry within two hours, paying only the highest fare, as long as they use the same payment method. The city's airport is Boston Logan International Airport.

Winters are cold and summers warm. At Logan Airport, the 1991-2020 normals of NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information give an average of 29.9 °F (about -1 °C) in January, with daily highs of 36.8 °F (about 3 °C), and an average of 74.1 °F (about 23 °C) in July, with highs of 82.1 °F (about 28 °C). Warm winter clothing is a real expense for students from warmer countries.

Frequently asked questions

Which universities are in Boston?

Our directory includes Boston University, Northeastern University, UMass Boston, Suffolk University, MCPHS, Boston Architectural College, Fisher College and Emmanuel College, among others. Harvard and MIT are in neighbouring Cambridge.

How much does it cost to study in Boston?

For 2024-25, College Navigator lists tuition and fees of $68,102 at Boston University and $38,125 at UMass Boston for out-of-state students, plus about $19,000 to $19,600 a year for food and housing on campus.

Can I take summer courses in Boston?

Yes. Boston University Summer Term offers more than 600 courses in 70 subjects.

How much is public transport in Boston?

An MBTA subway ride costs $2.40, a bus ride $1.70, a 7-day pass $22.50 and a monthly LinkPass $90.